Classico Match Preview

By: Richard | October 24th, 2009

classico-paris-marseille
“The Derby de France” “The Classico” – quite possibly the biggest match of Ligue 1 but will it live up to expectations? The storied history between Marseille and Paris Saint Germain has always been an event that has captured the footballling hearts and minds of France. Sundays encounter will be no different as a struggling PSG will be looking to right themselves and take three points at the Velodrome. Its safe to say that our side will be going into tomorrow’s match under very little pressure. Deschamps might say otherwise but I believe we are truly inform and have been playing some excellent football as of late. Combined with a healthy squad and a home field advantage there is no reason why we should not walk away with all three points. However the same cannot be said for PSG, a team struggling with injures and without a win since August. Suffice to say a win at the Velodrome for the Parisians would be anything short but monumentous.

From the PSG perspective, this could be the game to end their horrid slump and put them back in the title race. If you talk to Antoine Kombouare, a win might very well save his job. As if the derby itself wasn’t surrounded with enough drama, word is a case of the swine flu had infected the PSG camp. If this is the case, tomorrow’s game could have even been canceled as literally the entire squad was suspect with the sickness. While the game is still planned to go on, players health remains a priority and I certainly hope that the tests results are negative for PSG. Whatever the case may be I expect morale at the PSG camp to be extremely low. With a coach that may or may not be on his way out, injuries, sickness and having to play away from home will not do well for Kombouare’s men. Ultimately Sundays match may prove to be a disappointment in terms of what we expect from these two teams. Certainly we are in form but what kind of PSG will take to the pitch tomorrow? Obviously we want a win, but games like this are all about a sort of close competitiveness a frenzy that literally draws everyone in. Manchester derby anyone? I just dont think PSG right now is up to playing at our level this could be incredibly one sided for us.

Our possible starting eleven Mandanda; Bonnart, Diawara (all reports say he is fit and should make a return tomorrow), Heinze, Taiwo, Valbuena, Cisse, Lucho, Cheyrou, Niang, and Kone. I expect to see a huge game from Niang (as always) but more specifically Lucho. His pace and calmness in the game against Zurich was like an anchor for an otherwise lost midfield. I think he is finally used to his new team and were going to start reaping in the benefits.

For PSG who knows who will be able to play tomorrow. We know that Ludovic Giuly, Stephane Sessegnon, Jeremy Clement and Mamadou Sakho are supposedly healthy but that’s it. Until the results come in for the flu I’m at a loss for who will actually be playing. So we certainly wish their players the best in a speedy recovery. My advice to coach Kombouare is to verse his players in Michael Jordan’s famous flu game. That might lift some spirits.

In the end I think the game will go on as scheduled and that many across France will ultimately be disappointed with it. PSG certainly isn’t healthy or else the thought of canceling the game would have never been mentioned in the first place. For the players sake I certainly hope that they are not forced to play just to please us fans. We all want a great match tomorrow but not at the expense of the players health. Deschamps knows the pressure is not on downplaying the classic right from the start. I’m glad he’s kept his cool and not bought into the hype and drama of all of this it only will put our players at ease.

Prediction
Marseille 2-0 Paris Saint-Germain